NFL power rankings: Texans remain idle in 'close call' vs. Chargers

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On an eight-game win streak with victories over four potential playoff rosters, are the Houston Texans among the top three teams entering this weekend's regular-season finale?

Nope. Instead, it's another week of losing ground at the worst time possible.

Nope. Instead, Houston moves outside the top five because of a close call against a bad roster.

Fresh off a 20-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Texans sit at 11-5 and are officially back in the playoffs. They're still a half-game out of first place, but bolstering the league's No. 1 defense in total yards and scoring has made the case for them as perhaps the most complete roster in the AFC South.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who can clinch the division title on Sunday with a win over the Titans, still own the AFC South. A loss would take them out of the conversation should Houston win, but a win could clinch home-field advantage with losses by New England and Denver.

As for the Texans, even though they remain in second place for the division, they once again lost a bit of traction in Nate Davis' latest NFL power rankings for USA TODAY Sports, remaining idle at No. 7 overall.

"Now on an eight-game heater, their league-best defense − stifling, opportunistic and rude to opposing quarterbacks − should keep them in just about every game. But can an often limited offense, particularly in the run game, hold up its end of the bargain − especially if a franchise that's never reached the AFC title game winds up on the postseason road?" Davis wrote.

Houston secured an interception on Justin Herbert before halftime behind the return of Azeez Al-Shaair into the starting lineup after missing last week's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. That, along with two missed kicks from Cameron Dicker, were among the many issues that cost Los Angeles a chance as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

For Indianapolis, its season went south after the season-ending injury to Daniel Jones. Losing six of their last seven games, the Colts were knocked out of the playoff picture following Houston's win on Saturday. They appeared at No. 21.

"Nunc Coepi, fellas … just not sure who you're beginning with next," Davis wrote.

Across the AFC South, the Jaguars took a step back after having a close call with the Colts. Yes, they won, but Trevor Lawrence didn't throw a touchdown pass and was limited as a runner outside of two red-zone scores.

"Why aren't they No. 1 … even though they might wind up there in the overall AFC standings? Their seven-game winning streak, most of those victories of the decisive variety, is currently second only to Houston's. The Jags are committed to the run, take the ball away and can rush the passer. But as well as QB Trevor Lawrence has played since Thanksgiving, he also remains an unproven commodity − at the professional level anyway − when it comes to January football," Davis wrote.

As for the Titans, they remained idle after losing late against the New Orleans Saints. For the first time this season, Cam Ward looked promising, but it was rookie Chimere Dike who earned the accolades from Davis and the Pro Bowl voters.

"Congratulations to Pro Bowl WR Chimere Dike, who's had a historic rookie season … even if he's not the rookie the Titans had hoped would have a historic season," Davis wrote.

Elsewhere around the league, the Los Angeles Rams are ranked No. 1 and the Seattle Seahawks are ranked No. 2 as the two leaders toward a Super Bowl run. To view the complete NFL power rankings going into Week 16, visit USATODAY.com.

Kickoff for Sunday's showdown is scheduled for Noon CT on CBS.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL power rankings: Texans remain idle in 'close call' vs. Chargers

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